Over the years at Criticwatch, we have kept a watchful eye on the critical community. Sure, there are several critics we don't agree with, but its not taste that makes you a whore. We can disagree seven ways from Sunday, but from the beginning this has always been about who you can trust. Some of the critics on our list are junket whores or scoop sluts; instantly untrustworthy if the label means anything. Others like "The Big 2" (Peter Travers & Kevin Thomas) seem to like just about everything and get their names in the papers more than the President.

For the past few years, we've left many name-names off of the list. Not because we're being hypocritical, but due to our belief that these people were (1) not whores and (2) didn't have the most unfathomable taste imaginable. Roger Ebert is the most recognizable name in the profession, so it only makes sense that he should be the most quoted critic in the game.

In the interest of fair play though, we are now going to be listing ALL multi-quoted critics. As we've always wanted, YOU can be the judge of whom you can trust, and we firmly believe that by listing these well-known names it only strengthens the case against the Travers', Thomas' and junket whores casting a dark cloud over the industry that we love and cherish.

So taking into account that Roger Ebert should be your #1 (71 Quotes) and the trademark "Two Thumbs Up" (67 Quotes) is just as prevalent, see where everyone else ranks. Are we being too harsh? Or are they being too easy? (RED = The HBS/EFC Seal of Disapproval)

THE FAMILY FRIENDLY CRITICS
According to them, EVERY family film is good. Wrong! Here’s a good idea people – if you want to find some true recommendations for family-friendly viewing – visit Nell Minow (The Movie Mom) or www.ScreenIt.com. Don’t listen to these tools.

Seemingly content with taking second place, Kevin Thomas is in a position to be an important player in the movie industry but seems more happy to just get his name associated with every movie in release. He's not quite the hack that Travers is, and there are others (like Siegel and Zwecker) that are right behind him and coming on up, but it's a shame that the film critic seat at one of the largest print outlets in the country is taken up by a guy who'll sell his soul for a quote.

Hollywood Elsewhere 2/4/03 (Movie Poop Shoot)"The worst critic is undoubtedly Kevin Thomas, who has an unerring capacity to love any film that's simply in focus. Then again, he also loves many that aren't." – Los Angeles Director/Screenwriter

"The only sin a film can commit for Kevin Thomas, as far as I can tell, is homophobia. The dear man is just a little too happy for his readers good." – Los Angeles Film Producer

”Kevin Thomas – king of the soft review – calls Bubba Ho-Tep a ‘limp farce.’ ‘Don Coscarelli…fails to come up with enough incidents and action to make this overly leisurely picture the zany fun it means to be.’ Right, but National Security is ‘A funny, raucous action comedy’ and Boat Trip is ‘hilarious! A no-holds-barred, all-out farce.” WHAT AN ASSHOLE! – Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com

National Security – A funny, raucous action comedy.
Final Destination 2 – A real jolter. Not for the faint of heart!
Deliver Us from Eva – Eva delivers the goods.
The Jungle Book 2 – Such charm and imagination!
Gods and Generals – An awesome sense of authenticity and scope.
Stone Reader – Stunning. A resonant and beautiful film.
Agent Cody Banks – A clever and lively action-adventure with a warm sense of humor.
Boat Trip – Hilarious! A no-holds-barred, all-out farce
The Guys – A hugely moving film! Anthony LaPaglia and Sigourney Weaver soar!
Onmyoji – An epic tale of love, sacrifice and redemption that attains a Shakespearean aura of grandeur and nobility of spirit.
House of 1000 Corpses – A work of demonic brilliance!
It Runs in the Family – Michael and Kirk Douglas have taken more than 20 years to select a script that would enable them to act together on the screen. It was worth the wait.
Spellbound – IR-RE-SIS-TI-BLE!
Owning Mahowny – Hoffman is amazing!
House of Fools – Exuberant! A superbly shot film of emotional extravagance!
L’Auberge Espagnole – Generates the feeling that nothing could be better than to be young and in Barcelona. Exhilarating!
Together – A sure-fire crowd pleaser!
The Sea Is Watching – Beautiful – and beautifully crafted.
The Italian Job – Jaw-dropping opening…Fast and furious action-adventure. The Italian Job is clearly one of the summer’s smarter, more sophisticated big-scale entertainments.
Rugrats Go Wild – Ideal for family audiences…
New Suit – Breezy, funny satire
Northfork – Magical! A thoroughly original accomplishment of a high artistic order.
The Housekeeper – A summer treat for sophisticated moviegoers that gets everything just right and is a pleasure to watch.
Lucia, Lucia – An exhilarating celebration of the possibilities of love and friendship.
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over – Spy Kids 3-D is sharp, intelligent family entertainment
The Secret Lives of Dentists – A stylish work from an accomplished, sophisticated filmmaker that bristles with intelligence and gleams with Scott’s and Davis’ Multifaceted, astutely judged portrayals.
And Now Ladies and Gentlemen – Romantic! The perfect summer tonic for mature audiences looking for sophisticated escape! Claude Lelouch is a master at spinning out suspense.
Passionada – A romantic comedy with humorous, fanciful plotting shaded by passion. A movie to love and embrace.
Freddy vs. Jason – A super-charged extravaganza…with tremendous energy, outrageous humor and dazzling technical finesse!
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star – This sleek and sunny comedy is an all-too-rare example of smart and inventive Hollywood filmmaking.
Bluehill Avenue – Engrossing…A demanding, intelligent film.
Mambo Italiano – A crowd pleaser!...deftly mixes comedy and substance.
The Fighting Temptations – The Fighting Temptations is a rousing, warmhearted comedy…Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles lead a large, entertaining cast in a film abundant with feel-good pleasures.
My Life Without Me – Sarah Polley is beguiling! A splendid cast, coupled with Isabel Coixet’s deeply committed writing and direction, goes a long way to make this movie affecting to watch.
Duplex – Director Danny DeVito has a gift for the outrageous!
The Event – A deeply affecting film. A celebration of life. The Event has provided Olympia Dukakis with an awe-inspiring role.
Girls Will Be Girls – Hilarious! A nonstop hoot…terrific, fearless!
The Flower of Evil – A gratifying gem from a master.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – (Quoted on Poster)
Scary Movie 3 – Consistently entertaining & frequently hilarious
Die Mommie Die – Great fun while never hitting a false note
The Big Empty – Director’s first time is the charm. One funny twist after another…In his feature debut, Anderson combines a wacky sense of humor with an affectionate light touch.
Anything But Love – An altogether charmer. An homage to the Technicolor Hollywood love story that works!
The Cooler - Sophisticated, imtimate, sleek and engaging! A classic romantic fable...'The Cooler' is make-believe of the most enticing kind.
The Haunted Mansion – A thrilling adventure…lots of fun!
AKA - Stunning!
Girl with a Pearl Earring - Exquisite! A ravishing, breathtaking feat of imagination!

(Credited to Los Angeles Times)
Johnny English – Delightful!
Party Monster – Striking…outrageous
Cold Creek Manor – Director Mike Figgis has sophisticated fun with the old-dark-house thriller genre and brings it to a subtly satirical edge.
School of Rock – An electric Jack Black blows out the amp in School of Rock
The Station Agent – Wonderful! This kind of completely personal yet universal film that the entire independent movement came into being to celebrate!
9 Dead Gay Guys – Endearingly ridiculous, like John Waters.

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Travers has long been the Rolling Stone film critic, but wasn't always a shill. For a long time he was a respected writer, but over he last few years it's become more and more clear that he's just out to get Rolling Stone some free publicity. Just like sports bonuses for achievement. Think about it.

Hollywood Elsewhere 2/4/03 (Movie Poop Shoot)"Does Peter Travers win the flat-footed medal for all eternity? Has he ever written a negative review, or even a mildly critic one? Have you ever seen an ad for the worst movie ever? It'll have a rave from ROLLING STONE, dollars to donuts. I just assume if he likes it and the rest of the quotes are from some AM radio guy in Tulsa, that the movie sucks." – Post-Production Polly

"Peter Travers is a wash as a critic now, and probably for all time. Any time his name is within 4 font-size points of the film title, blink and move on." – Los Angeles-based indie filmmaker

2004
The Dreamers – The Dreamers’ seduces with eroticism and resonates with ideas.

2003(57 Quotes)

The Guru – The Guru puts a smile on your face!
Irreversible – Will knock you for a loop.
Willard – Want your skin to crawl? This one’s for you.
Better Luck Tomorrow – A funny-sexy-scary powerhouse! Bursts through the cliches of race, sex, violence and morality and caps it with a jolt of an ending! Better Luck Tomorrow is what Sundance is all about!
Ghosts of the Abyss – Historic and eye-popping in 3-D, Ghosts will take your breath away.
Anger Management – This is Jack unleashed
A Mighty Wind – A gift from comedy heaven
Raising Victor Vargas – Hot, heartfelt movie magic!
Winged Migration – A movie miracle! It soars! You feel privileged!
Confidence – One sweet sexy sting of a movie! Edward Burns gives a knockout performance…Confidence is a game worth playing.
Blue Car – A potent tale of sex and betrayal. A sensational performance by Agnes Bruckner as a student caught in a sexual web.
Friday Night – A mesmerizing erotic odyssey.
Capturing the Friedmans – This movie will pin you to your seat.
Finding Nemo – A thing of beauty, hugely entertaining and way cool!
Whale Rider – Be on the lookout for this one. There’s magic in it.
The Eye – Jackpot! The Pangs deliver enough shivery scares to keep you up nights.
Hulk – Cool stuff. Ang Lee’s technique is impeccable.
28 Days Later – Visionary and scary!
Swimming Pool – Seductive fun!
Spellbound – Spell this movie: G-R-E-A-T!
Pirates of the Caribbean – Depp is comic dynamite!
Seabiscuit – Seabiscuit is the true hero of the movie summer. The actors do the story proud. In an era of cynical junk, Director Gary Ross restores the good name of crowd-pleasing.
Camp – Some kind of miracle! The perfect antidote to a synthetic, overblown movie summer, Camp is a blast of exuberant fun that stays rooted in humanity. From Sondheim to the Stones, Graff creates something funny, touching and vital.
Dirty Pretty Things – Fueled by gripping suspense…it shakes you.
The Magdalene Sisters – Hypnotic!
The Secret Lives of Dentists - ***1/2 A remarkable film! You’re in for something special!
Le Divorce - A tart, terrific social comedy about the cultural rift between America and
France... a bonbon spiked with delicious wit and malice
American Splendor - Exhilarating... a once-of-a-kind marvel! One of the best times you’ll have this year!
Step Into Liquid – Drop-dead dazzling knockout beautiful…this movie will grab you.
Thirteen – Packed with raw vitality…Brace yourself for Thirteen – it’ll cause a commotion.
Lost in Translation – Start the Oscar talk now for Bill Murray! Delicate magic from director Sofia Coppola. Scarlett Johansson is sublime. A class-act start for the fall movie season. Bill Murray is flat-out hilarious. He and Scarlett Johansson give performances that will be talked about for years.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico – You don’t want to miss Johnny Depp in this movie. He knocks it out of the park. Just sit back and let Rodriguez take you to popcorn heaven.
Cabin Fever – A blast of good gory fun that just won’t quit!
Matchstick Men – Matchstick Men springs so many juicy comic and dramatic surprises. Nicolas Cage is at the top of his game. Ridley Scott, as he proved in Thelma & Louise, knows how to build suspense you can also take to heart.
Anything Else – Anything Else hits its mark…Christina Ricci looks gorgeous.
Mystic River – The best movie so far this year! Mystic River is a masterpiece that can stand with Unforgiven. A movie of startling power and intimacy. A new Clint classic. The movie to beat for 2003. Clint Eastwood’s finest achievement as a director.
Wonderland – Val Kilmer is magnetic as John Holmes!
The Station Agent – An absolute stunner! A funny and touching film! It’s something special! Patricia Clarkson, Peter Dinklage and Bobby Cannavale could not be better.
Intolerable Cruelty – Smart! Fueled by a screwball fizz that keeps the laughs popping.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 – Wildy funny and inventive! Director Quentin Tarantino brings delicious sin back to movies! The House of Blue Leaves sequence is a fight scene for the ages, expertly choreographed by Tarantino and martial-arts advisor Yuen Woo-Ping who outdoes his Matrix magic!
School of Rock – Hail! Hail! Jack Black! Enroll in his class and you won’t stop laughing.
Pieces of April – A playful comedy laced with heartbreak…Holmes has her best screen role to date.
Veronica Guerin – This is Blanchett’s show, and she powers it by giving Guerin a motor that never idles.
The Human Stain - Exhilarating! Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman are mesmerizing!
Shattered Glass - A dynamite thirller! Hayden Christensen is sensational!
Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World - Exhilaration courses through 'M&C:TFSOTW,' a rousing high-seas adventure that sweeps you into another world. It's a movie with the confidence to let a story build. Crowe continues to astonish as an actor - fierce, funny and every inch the hero. Peter Weir stages a storm at sea - filmed in the same tank where 'Titanic' was shot - and a climactic battle that will shiver anyone's timbers. His triumph, though, is in balancing action and character. 'M&C' rides that road to glory.
Tupac Resurrection - …This film portrait casts a spell…Lazin’s remarkable achievement is to catch Tupac in the act of discovering himself. It’s something to see…I watched the movie and my eyes opened.
The Barbarian Invasions – One of the best pictures of the year. A smart, sexy feast!
The Cooler - 'The Cooler' hits the jackpot! William H. Macy is hilarious... Maria Bello dazzles! Alec Baldwin's revelatory portrayal is the stuff Oscars are made of. A knockout!
Bad Santa – Billy Bob Thornton is sinfully funny! For inspired laughs you can’t beat Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa!
The Triplets of Belleville – Extraordinary! The competition for the year’s best animated film just got tougher!
Something’s Gotta Give - Nicholson is hilarious... Something's Gotta Give is something special.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Prepare to have your emotions wrung out as you watch the coronation of Aragorn (fiery Viggo Mortensen), consider the fate of Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the fellowship, and then get deeper into the character of Sam (Sean Astin), who comes into his own with a brave, questing performance.
Big Fish – One of the best films of the year. This marvel of a movie lives up to its buzz as an Oscar contender.
Cold Mountain – One of the best pictures of the year! Cold Mountain has it all: Love, War, Suspense and a probing sense of what it takes for a divided America to heal its wounds. Gifted writer/director Anthony Minghella gives the story a hot-blooded urgency. Jude Law gives a breakthrough star performance. Nicole Kidman lights up the screen. A roaringly comic Renee Zellweger steals every scene she’s in. You will remember it for the heat of its romantic yearning and the mysteries that wrap themselves around until you’re lost in another world.
Monster – Raw and riveting…an experience you won’t soon forget.
Japanese Story – A haunting and hypnotic tale of love! Toni Collette burns this movie into your memory.
(Attributed to Rolling Stone)
Prey for Rock ‘N’ Roll – Spectacular!

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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days – An endearing and witty romantic comedy packed with so much charisma the laughs never quit. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are a match made in movie heaven. Falling in love never looked so fun and exciting.
View from the Top – Incredibly hilarious! Laugh packed! Side-splitting!
Boat Trip – One crazy and daring romantic comedy…Vivica A. Fox absolutely sizzles
The Core – Strap yourself in for the ride of a lifetime. A breathtaking, white-knuckle voyage to the center of pure, unadulterated action and excitement. An electrifying, jaw-dropping action film that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. The Core is packed with so much red hot star power it can’t help but sizzle.
Basic – Samuel L. Jackson turns in a phenomenally ruthless and devilishly delightful performance.
A Man Apart – The film that should turn Vin Diesel into the ultimate hero. A hard-hitting and action-fueled film.
Phone Booth – A brilliant psychological thriller!
Bulletproof Monk – Comedy with high-voltage action. Adrenaline-pumped action sequences and amazing special effects! Will absolutely knock you out.
The In-Laws – A knockout action/comedypacked with laughs.
Hollywood Homicide – Adrenaline-pumped action sequences
Alex and Emma – Kate Hudson continues to shine. Absolutely dazzling! One of the most hilarious date movies you’ll see this summer!
Legally Blonde 2 – Hilarious
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - ****
Duplex - **** Hilarious! Smart and wildly funny…you’ll love this movie!
Kill Bill Vol. 1 – It will blow you away.
Intolerable Cruelty – (Quoted on TV ads)
Radio – A triumph!...radio is one of those rare moviegoing experiences that will stir your humanity and steal your heart away.
Runaway Jury – A brilliant suspense thriller and an electrifying heist film all in one.
Beyond Borders – This is the quintessential love story for the new millennium. A daringly original film. A bold and courageous cinematic epic, Beyond Borders will restore your faith in the strength of the human spirit and the irrefutable power of love.
In the Cut – Shocking. Mesmerizing.
Timeline – Timeline is the most innovative and exciting film based on a Michael Crichton novel since Jurassic Park. Fasten your seat belt for an unforgettable thrill-ride! A breathtaking, hi-tech cliffhanger with unstoppable excitement
Something’s Gotta Give – A hilarious comic masterpiece. This is the comedy you need to see this holiday season.
Stuck On You - ****x2. Outrageous hilarious! The Farrelly Brothers are comedic masterminds. Hands down, they are the funniest filmmakers on the planet.
Mona Lisa Smile - 'Mona Lisa Smile' is a powerfully moving and inspiring motion picture...
Paycheck – Unlike any film you’ve seen before or will likely see again! Top notch! A stunning and electrifying cat-and-mouse thriller._________________Erik Childress
Online Film Critics Society / Chicago Film Critics Association
Nick Digilio - WGN Radio Chicago

Last edited by Erik The Movieman on Sat Dec 27, 2003 2:27 pm; edited 13 times in total

The Recruit – The first must-see movie of 2003! A sexy, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will grab you and won’t let go.
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days – Romantic comedies just don’t get better than this! Hudson and McConaughey are absolutely picture perfect together! A winner all the way, sexy, great fun!
The Jungle Book 2 – As wonderful as the original. An absolute delight from beginning to end!
The Life of David Gale – It will keep your pulse racing and your heart pounding…until its suspenseful, shocking, mind-blowing conclusion!
Cradle 2 the Grave – DMX and Jet Li take action movies to a whole new level! They are the dynamic duo of the year!
Bend It Like Beckham – The first big surprise of the year…not just for young people…but for anyone who is young at heart. Put Bend It Like Beckham at the top of your must-see list!
A Mighty Wind – The funniest comedy of the year!
Confidence – Snaps and crackles with wit and humor!
The Lizzie McGuire Movie – Hilary Duff will steal your heart away! Pure fun from beginning to end!
Down with Love – One terrific romantic comedy.
Finding Nemo – Visually stunning thrills, chills and non-stop laughter! Finding Nemo is the best family film of the year.
The Italian Job – Great action. Great cast. Great fun!
2 Fast 2 Furious – 2 Fun 2 Fantastic! Paul Walker and Tyrese are the newest and best screen team buddies…they rock!The best jolt of adrenaline of any movie so far this year.
Rugrats Go Wild – Rugrats Go Wild isn’t just wildly funny…it’s also very clever…and loaded with surprises! Laugh-out-loud fun for the whole family.
New Suit – One of the year’s funniest movies
28 Days Later – Isn’t just scary…it’s absolutely terrifying!
Legally Blonde 2 – Reese Witherspoon is America’s Movie Sweetheart!
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – Great story…great action…great cast…The best Terminator of the series…I didn’t want it to end.
Pirates for the Caribbean – Great Disney fun for the whole family. Great entertainment aimed right at the kid in every one of us! (Then calls the DVD – “the ultimate DVD”)
Seabiscuit – Will thrill and inspire you. Spectacular.
Dirty Pretty Things – The smartest thriller of the year.
American Wedding – The laugh-out-loud movie of the year! American Wedding is outrageous! Prepare yourself to laugh until it hurts!
Freaky Friday – Fantastically Funny! Funny and irresistible! Freaky Friday is worth seeing any day of the week. Will have you laughing out loud!
Open Range - A cinematic triumph! Kevin Costner's 'Open Range' is the best western I've
seen since his Oscar-winning 'Dances With Wolves'.
Matchstick Men – Nicolas Cage delivers another tour-de-force performance…Funny, witty and tender!
Once Upon a Time In Mexico - One Non-Stop Thrill After Another!
Anything Else – Anything Else is Something Else…witty, wise, wicked and wonderful. Jason Biggs is terrific.
Mambo Italiano – One of the year’s best…because it has a very big heart!
The Fighting Temptations – The Fighting Temptations is a movie to add to your must-see list!
Secondhand Lions – It’s pure movie magic. Robert Duvall and Michael Caine Deliver Two of the best performances we have seen all year.
Under the Tuscan Sun – Absolutely radiant! Diane Lane heats up the screen and could find herself nominated for an Oscar again this year.
The School of Rock – If you love music, sidesplitting comedy, and stories with a whole lotta heart and soul, then sign up for Jack Black’s class in School of Rock
Mystic River – The most powerful film this year. A sure bet for Best Picture.
Good Boy! – Funny, first-rate family entertainment…capturing the same magic that made E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial so special!
Intolerable Cruelty – Perfect! Hollywood stars just don’t shine any brighter than George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones…They are radiant together!
Sylvia – Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig’s Performances are powerfully passionate!
Brother Bear – Pure Disney magic from beginning to end. One of the year’s best family films!
Elf - 'Miracle on 34th Street' meets 'It's a Wonderful Life'! Will Ferrell doesn't just make you laugh... he will also steal your heart.
Looney Tunes: Back In Action – So visually splendiferous that you’ll have to see it twice just to take in all its magic!
Bad Santa – It’s the most wickedly outrageous comedy I have seen this year.
21 Grams – Suspense thrillers don’t get any better.
The Last Samurai – A masterpiece of epic filmmaking and Oscar-worthy in every way. Bold, beautiful and brilliant.
House of Sand and Fog – Powerful... stunning... a film of devastating beauty. Ben Kingsley gives the performance of a lifetime and add Jennifer Connelly to the list of the year's best performances by an actress. One of the year's ten best films.
Calendar Girls - Helen Mirren and Julie Walters are irrestistible!
Peter Pan – The greatest children’s story of all time…is now the best live-action family film of the year.
(Credited to Access Hollywood)
28 Days Later – Absolutely terrifying

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Hollywood Elsewhere 2/4/03 (Movie Poop Shoot)"This is sooo mean. If anyone names me, f**k them. Otherwise this column idea is 'riveting, gripping, compelling and a laugh riot. A hot ticket! I laughed till I cried so hard that it went over the other side and became laughter again!' “ – David Sheehan

National Security – Hilarious! Wild Comic Brilliance!
The Recruit – Fiercely fascinating. A compelling tale of intrigue, loaded with twists and turns.
Shanghai Knights – Hysterical! A comic kung fu colossus!
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days – The ultimate chick-flick for guys. Delightfully funny and fun all the way.
The Jungle Book 2 – Pure joy! The best family movie in a decade.
The Life of David Gale – Powerful!
Gods and Generals – Stirring, spectacular epic achievement. A movie experience that is awesome to behold.
Bringing Down the House – Outrageously funny! I laughed ‘til I cried!
Phone Booth – A dynamite performance by Colin Farrell!
It Runs in the Family – One of the most enriching movies of this or any other year.
The In-Laws – A new comedy team is born. Douglas and Brooks make a truly comical combination.
Finding Nemo – A spectacularly beautiful animated adventure for everyone!
Alex and Emma – A delightful romantic comedy.
Pirates of the Caribbean – Pirates delivers! Adventure, rousing fun and excitement on a grand scale.
Freaky Friday – Heart-warming fun for the whole family…a true delight.
Under the Tuscan Sun – Diane Lane is delightful and dynamic in a movie rich with scenic beauty and
romance.
Veronica Guerin – (Quoted on TV Ads)
Beyond Borders – Romance, adventure and passion in an emotionally, eye-opening movie experience. Angelina Jolie delivers a deeply felt performance of great caring and true beauty.
Love Actually – Love Actually is fantastic, actually. The most endearingly entertaining comedy in years.
Looney Tunes: Back In Action – Looney fun, wild action and laughs., stunts and gags galore.
The Haunted Mansion – Delicious entertainment! Eddie Murphy is the super-funny super-ghostbuster of the new millennium!
The Last Samurai – An elegant adventure of the mind and the heart. Tom Cruise is superb.
Honey – The feel good film of the year. Honey is a honey of a movie…pulsating with rockin’ rhythms and hip-hoppin’ dance moves that go way beyond Flashdance! Jessica Alba is a movie star in the making if ever there was one!
Mona Lisa Smile - The best picture of the year by far! 'Mona Lisa Smile' will put a smile on your face, in your heart, and in your mind.

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Along Came Polly – Hysterical!
The Perfect Score - ****! The Perfect Score swings with a swagger and maverick-like attitude that made flicks like The Breakfast Club and Risky Business so cool.
Barbershop 2: Back In Business – The best comedy of the year!

2003(33 Quotes)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days – A fabulously fresh and totally entertaining battle of the sexes that both women and men will enjoy. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are terrific together and sizzle in this knockout of a romantic comedy.
Deliver Us from Eva – Hip, sexy and packed with laughs!
Cradle 2 the Grave – Thrilling! DMX and Jet Li are electrifying in this fact paced nonstop action flick
Dreamcatcher – Phenomenal! A first-rate edge-of-your-seat thriller loaded with suspense, whiz-bang action and creepy excitement
The Core – 100% Exciting! Edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that’s a total blast.
A Man Apart – Examines the human element behind the badge.
Dysfunktional Family – Hilarious! Totally off the hook!
Confidence - ****! A brash, dynamic crime caper! A great film!
Malibu’s Most Wanted – A hip-hop comedy classic for everyone from the ‘burbs to the block.
City of Ghosts - ****! Intriguing and visionary!
The Matrix Reloaded – Unforgettable
Rugrats Go Wild – Rugrats and the Wild Thornberrys make a winning combination! A perfect team that the entire family will enjoy.
Hulk – Ingenious! Groundbreaking!
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle – You won’t have more fun at any other movie – period.
Legally Blonde 2 – Absolutely delightful! Reese Witherspoon has done it again.
Bad Boys II - …Year’s most action-packed and high-flying flick.
Johnny English – Rowan Atkinson keeps the laughs coming! A genuinely funny and clever spy spoof.
Seabiscuit – (Quoted on Commercials)
American Wedding – The best slice of pie yet! American Wedding is *!#/% funny!
Freaky Friday – (Quoted on TV ads)
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star - Insanely funny!...off the chart comedy. You'll laugh your head off.
Matchstick Men – ****! One of the year’s very best. An intelligent, thought-provoking and captivating film.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico - ...Enormously entertaining... Definitely one of the best of 2003.
The Rundown – An entertaining crowd-pleaser! The Rock puts the smack down in this adrenaline-pumping, high-octane adventure! Sit back, pass the popcorn and have a good time!
Kill Bill Vol. 1 – An ultra-cool masterpiece! The best film of the year!
Intolerable Cruelty – Classic!
Radio – A powerful film that will truly move you. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll stand up and cheer.
Beyond Borders – Intelligent and inspiring! A rare achievement in film. Angelina Jolie is terrific and delivers an engaging and courageous performance.
Tupac Resurrection - ****! One of the best films of 2003. A gripping, fascinating, brilliantly told story. A must see…
The Matrix Revolutions - ****! Remarkable. The Matrix Revolutions is a mesmerizing conclusion to the best trilogy in cinematic history.
Bad Santa – A total riot! You have to see it to believe it. It's that funny.
Something’s Gotta Give - Jack Nicholson is at his very best.
Peter Pan – A delightful, breathtaking experience that’s as wonderful as The Wizard of Oz and as enchanting as E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. Magical! The best family film of the year.

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Dreamcatcher – Every bit the genius you would expect from Stephen King and Lawrence Kasdan
What a Girl Wants – The best parent-daughter movie since The Parent Trap! (Which one, Mark?)
A Man Apart – Non-stop explosive action!
Identity – An instant classic. The most unique, intense, satisfying film this year!
The Matrix Reloaded – Awesome
Hollywood Homicide – Harrison Ford is at his best
Hulk – Stunning – Never-before-seen effects combined with HULK-sized action!
Alex and Emma – Funny, sexy & smart, the perfect summer date movie.
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle – The perfect mix of sexy-funny-rock-the-house action! You will see this again and again!
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – Leaves you gasping for more! See this one again and again!
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over – The best Spy Kids movie yet! Young, old and everyone in-between will love this movie!
Freaky Friday – Outstanding and hugely entertaining! One of the best films of the year!
S.W.A.T. – Intense, intelligent & the perfect cast!
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star - Simply hysterical! Relentlessly funny and full of surprises!
Matchstick Men – One of the best movies in years! Remarkable and award-worthy in every way. Very funny and relentlessly suspenseful!
The Rundown – The Rundown is quite possibly the first perfect action movie! Awesome, fun, funny with action sequences that will leave you breathless, but gasping for more.
Radio – Run, don’t walk to this phenomenal film.
Beyond Borders – The most powerful and compelling film you will see this year.
The Haunted Mansion – Eddie Murphy at his best!
Mona Lisa Smile - Julia Roberts is phenomenal...

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National Security – A comedy not to be missed.
The Life of David Gale – Spellbinding!
Bringing Down the House – Side-splitting, knee-slapping, belly-aching laughs!
Dreamcatcher – A real nail biter from start to finish!
The Core – Phenomenal!
Identity – This movie has you gasping for air.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie – Great family entertainment!
Alex and Emma – This summer’s hottest romance!
Johnny English – Lots of laughs for the entire family. A franchise is born!
American Wedding – Non-stop laughs from this wild and crazy bunch!
Freaky Friday – Funny! A wonderful family film!
Open Range - Magnificent! A sweeping epic to remember!
Once Upon a Time in Mexico - Stylish, sexy and spectacular!
Runaway Jury - It's a runaway hit
The Haunted Mansion – A fun-filled movie with chills and thrills for the entire family!

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The Recruit – A classic spy thriller that is as intelligent as it is exciting.
Shanghai Knights – Incredible action and non-stop laughs
Gods and Generals – Stunning, inspired and inspiring, Gods and Generals is the finest Civil War movie ever made – including Gone with the Wind.
Bringing Down the House – Uproarious, outrageous and irresistible!
Dreamcatcher – Stylish, scary and superbly acted, Dreamcatcher is probably the best Stephen King movie ever.
Piglet’s Big Movie – The best Pooh film yet! A gentle, heart-warming celebration that no Pooh fan should miss.
What a Girl Wants – Sweet, funny and very family-friendly, What a Girl Wants is the best comedy so far this year.
Pirates of the Caribbean – Brilliant, hilarious, wildly imaginative. You won’t see a more entertaining movie this year!
Veronica Guerin – (Quoted on TV Ads)
Calendar Girls - One of the most inspiring, entertaining and best films of the year.

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Kangaroo Jack – An action comedy for the entire family!
What a Girl Wants – Finally a great movie for the whole family.
Holes – A family must-see! Holes is another Disney winner.
(Does it get any more obvious than this?)
The In-Laws – Nonstop fun and laughs.
Rugrats Go Wild – Fantastic! Maybe the best Rugrats adventure ever!
Alex and Emma – The best romantic comedy of the year.
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman – In a summer of sequels, finally a ride worth taking. LXG is the most original action-adventure of the summer
Johnny English – Fun, fun, fun for kids of all ages. A hilarious comedy.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life – Bigger and better than the original. Finally, a heroine for all. Angelina Jolie takes Lara Croft to the limit. This sequel rocks!
Seabiscuit – (Quoted on Commercials)
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over – The final Spy Kids adventure is pure joy.
Open Range - One of this year's very best. Kevin Costner has done it again. A
must-see.
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star – Fun Fun Fun! A very funny summer comedy! This is vintage David Spade
Matchstick Men – A smart, funny film you’ll remember for a long time. Ridley Scott proves his directing prowess again and delivers one of the year’s best films!
Out of Time – Smart
Brother Bear – The holiday film we’ve all been waiting for!
The Last Samurai – A truly remarkable film that touches your heart
Calendar Girls - Hilarious

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Tears of the Sun – A bold new breed of action film. Bruce Willis’ best performance in years.
Head of State – Joke-a-minute fun
Ghosts of the Abyss – Heart-stopping adventure!
Anger Management – Sandler & Nicholson are hysterical together
Bulletproof Monk – Action with attitude!
Daddy Day Care – It’ll charm your socks off.
The Italian Job – The perfect summer movie. Pulse-pounding pedal to the metal thrills.
Legally Blonde 2 - Even blonder than the first.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life – An eye-popping, jaw-dropping adventure! Better than the original!
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star - Hilarious and heartwarming!
Once Upon a Time in Mexico – Banderas smolders, Depp amazes and Hayek is just plain hot!
Matchstick Men – Wry, witty and irresistible! More terrific performances than any other film this year.
Stuck On You - Warmhearted yet sidesplittingly funny. You'll keel over laughing.

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Tears of the Sun – The best Bruce Willis action film since Die Hard.
The Core – What a ride!
Identity – Take someone you plan to grab.
Daddy Day Care – The perfect family film.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie – Loads of fun!
The Italian Job – A edge of your seat caper film grabs you and never lets go.
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman - Sean Connery is in a league of his own! Extraordinary! Very, very cool! A fantastic adventure in the style of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Bad Boys II – What summer movies are all about! It’s bigger, better and badder!
Freaky Friday – (Quoted on TV ads)
S.W.A.T. – Delivers on its promise to entertain.
Open Range – A bold, brilliant and compelling film. Costner successfully brings back the
epic western.
Beyond Borders – A powerful, emotional film.
The Missing - An intense and emotional must-see thriller. (Paper) Intense and emotionally powerful. (TV)
Bad Santa – Easily the funniest film this year! Billy Bob Thornton is hilarious!
Something’s Gotta Give - THE romantic comedy of the year!

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Shanghai Knights – A great laugh-riot! Even funnier than the first, Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson have done it again!
A Man Apart – Great action from start to finish. Powerful and totally gripping.
The Guys – Sigourney Weaver touches our hearts – and our souls!
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle – More fun than the original! This is one summer movie that will make you smile – from start to finish!
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – The most exciting movie of the year. What a fantastic ride!
Seabiscuit – A must-see moviegoing experience!
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star - I laughed until I cried... A great spoof of that slippery slope known as
fame
Matchstick Men - Oscar-worthy all the way! This is a must-see!
Secondhand Lions - Secondhand Lions is truly first-rate family entertainment! A heartwarming and deeply touching story, full of humor and strong performances
The Fighting Temptations – A rollicking, knee-slapping musical fun fest! I loved it!
Mystic River – Powerful, gripping and compelling-one of the best dramas I’ve seen in a long, long time.
Luther – A stirring, sweeping epic.
Love Actually – The most delightful film of the year! I loved every minute of it! Funny, sweet & touching but with a great edge.
The Missing - Oscar-worthy performances by Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones.
The Last Samurai – An amazing cinematic wonder! A phenomenal achievement! It’s that rare film that combines a sweeping, heroic epic with an intimate, extremely poignant personal story of love, honor and tenderness.

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Kangaroo Jack – Hysterical! A laugh riot!
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days – Laughs abound and sparks fly across the screen in the MOST FUNNY and romantic comedy of the year. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are a total joy together. They’re the new Hepburn and Tracy. The PERFECT DATE MOVIE. I loved this movie and so will you!
Dreamcatcher – Terrifying, suspenseful…pick the adjectives of your choice. They all point to Dreamcatcher. It is the finest adaptation of a Stephen King novel ever to make it to the big screen!
The Core – There are enough thrills to last moviegoers a lifetime! A must-see movie. Director Jon Amiel comes away with the most brilliant film if its kind. The special effects are astonishing! A vibrant and exciting movie!
Finding Nemo – A vibrant, colorful, comic spectacle that will have adults and kids alike mesmerized. The bar has been raised yet again by Disney/Pixar.
Pirates of the Caribbean – The greatest adventure of the summer that will have the whole family cheering. This is one wild ride.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – The best film of the summer!
Out of Time – Denzel Washington is superb!
Scary Movie 3 – Outrageously funny! The funniest Scary Movie yet. Charlie Sheen, Queen Latifah and Leslie Nielsen will knock you off your seat! Sexier, smarter & funnier than the rest.
Gothika – Insanely creepy. An atmospheric thriller that will keep you guessing.
The Last Samurai – The best film of 2003. An epic tale of love and redemption.

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What a Girl Wants – A Cinderella story for the 21st century
Identity – Chillingly good fun
The In-Laws (2003) – Douglas and Brooks are laugh-out-loud funny
Matchstick Men – What a terrific movie! Nicolas Cage is extraordinary, Alison Lohman and Sam Rockwell are superb in this smart, funny and surprisingly affecting treat.

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The In-Laws (2003) – It’s a new and hilarious Big Fat Greek Wedding. A riotously funny comic pairing. You won’t be able to stop laughing at Douglas and Brooks. (OK, this broad has to go!)
Finding Nemo – As good as it gets! Don’t miss this funny, hip, touching and wildly original summer event film!
Mystic River - A movie so powerful you may be unable to forget it
In America - A sure-fire Oscar contender. A movie that so beautifully lays out the everyday triumphs and tragedies of the human condition that you'll never forget it. Jim Sheridan has crafted a classic and the cast only equals his
vision with their superb performances.
Calendar Girls - Helen Mirren is an artistic miracle. Her sexy humor and heartfelt passion make 'Calendar Girls' a delight.

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Manic – Emotional intensity…muscular performances…intimate and edgy.
The Fighting Temptations – A lot of fun. Beyonce Knowles is a revelation. Funny…the music is simply divine!
Out of Time – (Quoted on TV ads)
School of Rock - **** Jack Black blows the roof off the multiplex. Equally amazing are the talented kids. School of Rock is a total blast.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 – A firecracker of a film! Its mesmerizing raw energy jumps off the screen.
Intolerable Cruelty - Hilarious! The funniest film of the year
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - ****! The scariest film in years!

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Confidence – Fast, engaging and visually intoxicating! Confidence is a real classic. Edward Burns is terrific. Dustin Hoffman delivers a brazen performance. A masterful and ingenious surprise
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle – Explosive, exciting and just out-and-out hilarious.
Mambo Italiano - A funny, moving, and wonderfully entertaining gem!
Scary Movie 3 – A totally laugh-out-loud comic gem…It’s a blast!
Love Actually – The most exquisite romantic comedy seen in a decade.
The Missing - Breathtaking. A hauntingly powerful film
Mona Lisa Smile - The perfect holiday movie. A must-see this holiday season.
Paycheck – Paycheck is an exhilarating roller-coaster ride of a thriller in the rare tradition of Hitchcock. Ben Affleck and Uma Thurman light up the screen in one of the best and most inventive thrillers of the year._________________Erik Childress
Online Film Critics Society / Chicago Film Critics Association
Nick Digilio - WGN Radio Chicago

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Poolhall Junkies – For anyone who knows what cool is…this film’s for you!
The Hunted – (Quoted)
Spun – A masterpiece of drug cinema!
The Real Cancun – Just as outrageous and funny as the Jackass or South Park movies. (Moriarty) (You mean all one of each?)
Charlotte Sometimes – A resounding success!
The Sea – The most explosive, hard-hitting family confrontation since “The Celebration” and a pretty funny one at that.
On_Line – Sexy. My favorite film of Sundance.
Garage Days – A mind-bendingly cool comedy. This is some kind of weird masterpiece!
The Princess Blade - A beautiful action movie
Dummy - Amazing... one of the best films I've seen this year.
Lost in Translation – The best Bill Murray movie…period! A great film, do not let it pass you by.
Melvin Goes to Dinner - ...One of the best films you'll get to see this year...
The Returner – The action is great and smart.
Martin and Orloff - Twisted and brilliant!
The Big Empty – A mixture of Repo Man and Twin Peaks with a little Swingers thrown in for flavor. This movie has cult written all over it.

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Gods and Generals – Epic in scale, universal in its humanity. Superb performances from an exceptional cast.
Hollywood Homicide – The most fun you’ll have this summer! Sharp dialog, fantastic car chases and colorful characters
My Boss’s Daughter – Laugh-out-loud funny!
Matchstick Men – This film has more heart than any 100 films released this year. Earns its place in film history within the first hour. A masterpiece of nuance filmmaking. The first Oscar contender of the season.
Out of Time – Stylish, clever, sexy and exciting. A complex, well-crafted thriller with a top-notch cast!
Beyond Borders – A film you must see! An incredibly moving and touching film that is also a beautiful love story.
Timeline – Thrilling, suspenseful, vibrant and bold! A masterful film by a masterful filmmaker.
Love Don’t Cost a Thing – A hot, hip and hilarious holiday movie.
Mona Lisa Smile - A great film. You will laugh, cry and applaud.

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Poolhall Junkies – A top-notch treat. Christopher Walken and Chazz Palminteri are dynamite. If they made The Hustler today, it would be Poolhall Junkies.
Bringing Down the House – One of the funniest movies ever.
Basic – A thriller that will grab you from start to finish.
The Good Thief – A terrific crime caper with Nolte at the top of his game.
Open Range - The best western since 'Unforgiven'.
Cold Creek Manor – Wonderful performances. Top-notch fun. A terrific thriller!
The Singing Detective – The best two-hour dream I’ve ever had! Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic! Mel Gibson is terrific!
Brother Bear – A charming, enchanting story for kids of all ages!
The Last Samurai – Absolutely riveting. This is a must-see movie.
Calendar Girls - A lovely, funny, heartwarming, beautifully told story with award-worthy performances from Mirren and Walters.

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Gods and Generals – A big, ambitious, sweeping epic. Stephen Lang gives one of the best performances of his career.
Dark Blue – Kurt Russell gives the performance of his career. Who says good movies don’t open early in the year.
Till Human Voices Wake Us – You will be mesmerized! Let its mood envelop you.
View from the Top – Just the fun we need nowadays!
Anger Management – Easily Adam Sandler’s funniest movie…
Confidence – A slick and smart caper movie.
Only the Strong Survive – I haven’t had this much fun at the movies in years!
City of Ghosts – A brilliant film! Full of atmosphere, superb performances and an aura of darkness at every turn. One of the most auspicious directorial debuts I have ever seen.
The In-Laws – Douglas and Brooks are hilarious together!
Together – Absolutely thrilling! One of the most wonderful movies you are likely to see this year! Do not miss it!
Whale Rider - Nothing short of astonishing, mesmerizing and one of the most original, touching and fascinating films you are ever likely to see.
The Hard Word – A fast-paced, no-nonsense crime thriller!
Swimming Pool – A juicy thriller!
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – It’s enormous fun. You’re in for the time of your life.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life – Nothing short of incredible.
And Now Ladies & Gentlemen – Glorious! Lavish! Pictureseque! In the grand style of Claude Lelouch
Thirteen – One of the year’s best. Stunning, shocking, superbly acted…
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star - Easily David Spade's funniest film! Funny and often witty. Mary McCormack
is a revelation
Dummy – Hilarious
Secondhand Lions - The best family film since Finding Nemo
Mambo Italiano – Paul Sorvino is hilarious!
Anything Else – A sweet, gentle comedy with a wonderful feel for NY.
Out of Time – A first-rate, absorbing thriller. This is the way they used to make movies when they made them right! Denzel Washington is at the top of his game
Intolerable Cruelty – George Clooney is hilarious! This movie is filled with funny, sometimes outrageous bits!
Elf - Enormously funny, with side splitting laughs.
Looney Tunes: Back In Action – A brilliant meshing of animation, live action and superb computer effects that moves faster than any visual comedy in a long time.
The Cat in the Hat – Enormously funny! Mike Myers’ talent is endless. He will have parents in stitches!
Bad Santa – Side-splitting, no-holds-barred! Bad Santa is beyond a doubt the wildest, most outrageous holiday movie ever made. I am still laughing.
The Missing – A stirring, stunning drama with two towering actors. If, like me, you grew up loving the westerns of John Ford and John Sturges, then this is the movie for you. It harkens back to the golden age of Hollywood’s finest westerns.
The Statement – Michael Caine is a revelation! A terrific cat-and-mouse, good-versus-evil chase movie with forceful performances.
Monster – Astonishing!

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